$2.2M annual funding for Saskatoon-Minneapolis direct flights extended by Sask. government

The Saskatchewan government is extending its backstop of Saskatoon’s Minneapolis-St. Paul direct flights for another three years, after paying more than $5.6 million over the original three years of the deal.

The extension was announced in the spring budget, but more details were unveiled this month. The deal continues to guarantee $2.2 million in annual revenue for the route. The first agreement was announced in 2023, and this extension will continue it through the 2028-29 fiscal year.

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Warren Kaeding, Saskatchewan’s trade and export minister, was not made available for an interview, but the ministry issued a statement explaining the revenue guarantee is a backstop that will only be provided to the airport authority if flight revenues are “below the threshold amount.”

A total of $1,231,214 was paid to the Saskatoon Airport Authority in the 2023-24 fiscal year, and the full $2.2 million was paid in 2024-25 and again 2025-26.

The ministry said the flights enhance accessibility and boost the province’s appeal to investors by preserving business connections and ensuring economic competitiveness.

“Direct flights such as these have many economic benefits and provide travellers with more choice. At a time when airlines across the country are reducing the number of flights offered, these renewed flights will make Saskatchewan easier to access for both business travellers and tourists,” the ministry’s statement read.

In the agreement, the airport must provide invoices every six months detailing spending, and will be responsible for any funding to complete the project above and beyond the annual $2.2 million.

Regina’s airport authority has two similar ongoing deals – one of which started in 2024 with a $500,000 annual backstop for a direct route between Regina and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The ministry said the full $500,000 was paid out in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Another three-year deal, which started in May of 2025 to provide a $3.5 million backstop for direct flights between Regina and Denver, has not finished its full first year yet.

Speaking at the organization’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, April 29, Stephen Maybury, the Saskatoon Airport Authority’s president and CEO, says the demand for the Minneapolis flight has softened, similar to other flights to the U.S. (Marija Robinsom/650 CKOM)

Saskatoon Airport Authority pleased with extension

At the airport’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, Stephen Maybury, the airport authority president and CEO, thanked the provincial government and WestJet for the extension of the route revenue backstop.

“This is an incredibly important flight in terms of enhancing economic development and investment opportunities. Otherwise, without this type of agreement, you risk damaging the local environment, our critical visitor economy and business connectivity moving forward,” said Maybury.

He said the program is specifically structured on the performance of the route, and while it started out very strong, the demand has waned over time.

“From the traveller sentiment to the U.S., that’s to be expected. That’s across the board and not representative of that particular flight,” explained Maybury.

The money flows from the provincial government through the airport to the airline as necessary, according to the CEO.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Marija Robinson